3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act--Motion to Proceed

Floor Speech

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Ms. AYOTTE. Mr. President, I rise to discuss S.J. Res. 27, a resolution of disapproval of the cross-State air pollution rule. I appreciate my friend, the Senator from Kentucky, for bringing his concerns forward through this resolution. However, this is an issue I have been extensively involved in as New Hampshire's former attorney general, and I believe this resolution is misguided. This issue requires a balanced approach, and when looking at environmental regulations, we must review each on a case-by-case basis. In that vein, I cannot support this resolution.

The cross-State air pollution rule is designed to control emissions of air pollution that cause air quality problems in downwind States--and New Hampshire is a downwind State--and is estimated to reduce powerplant sulfur dioxide emissions by 73 percent and emissions from nitrogen oxides by 54 percent from 2005 levels.

It is important to note that similar pollution standards have been in place for 6 years--first implemented by the Bush administration in 2005--and many utilities have already taken steps to comply with the rule.

The rule encourages the use of the best technology available so downwind States such as New Hampshire will be able to achieve national clean air standards. Without this rule in place, New Hampshire will be unable to achieve national clean air standards due to air pollution that is outside the State's regulatory control and comes from other States.

In New Hampshire, we have a long, bipartisan tradition of working to advance commonsense, balanced environmental protections. That is the perspective from which I approach this resolution. From my time as the State's attorney general, I understand well that New Hampshire is one of several downwind States in what is infamously known as ``America's tailpipe.'' For far too long, air pollution generated by Midwestern coal-fired powerplants has been allowed to flow into the jetstream unabated and to settle in New England, leading to diminished air quality in my home State of New Hampshire.

As attorney general, I worked to protect Granite State residents and our environment from air pollutants generated by Midwest coal-fired powerplants. The reality is that air pollution does not stop at State borders, and New Hampshire should not be the tailpipe for pollutants from out-of-State powerplants. It is a matter of common sense to ensure that one State's emissions of pollutants do not unduly harm another State's air quality.

I urge my colleagues to oppose the resolution of disapproval.

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